The Bible Unearthed: The Making of a Religion (2005– ) User Reviews

Finally, a scientific examination of Ancient Israel

[PeaceAndLongLife · 10/10 · 7 February 2017]

This is an excellent show. It examines the history of ancient Israel based on archaeological evidence and non-biblical writings, just like the manner in which other ancient civilizations are studied. It treats the Judeo-Christian Bible with the same skepticism as an accurate source of history that anyone today would treat the Iliad as an accurate source. It calls into question the biblical stories of the Patriarchs, the Exodus, the conquest of Canaan, and the grandiose splendor of David and Solomon.

The show is a summary of the authors' book, which of course provides more details.

Bible believers will not like this show.

incredibly good

[brescd01 · 10/10 · 28 April 2022]

This is a truly extraordinary series based on an extraordinary book. Even if you disagree with the author's conclusions or find them premature, the information is so beautifully and clearly presented that you will feel well informed by the end. I don't "disagree" but I don't have a fraction of the sophistication necessary to have an opinion. But some of the theses are iconoclastic, and most are based on the absence of information rather than dispositive proof. Also, the basic theme that the Bible is tendentious and written with a particular agenda, doesn't really exclude or point to the veracity or falsity of its contents, just that the Bible was not composed contemporaneously with the events it described. And we more or less knew that from the use of the past tense throughout.